Aurelio’s Pizza, a household name in the Naples area, is officially open in its new Coastland Center location, under new ownership and ready to serve pizza lovers authentic Aurelio’s pizza.
For the past 15 years, Aurelio’s has been a favorite of thin-crust, Chicago-style pizza aficionados in Naples. New owners – father and son team Ross and Andrew Barnard — operated a successful Aurelio’s franchise location in LaGrange, IL for many years that Andrew is now running., while Ross and his wife recently relocated from LaGrange to run the Naples location. The Barnard’s are truly excited to bring their passion for Aurelio’s and impeccable track record for product quality and customer service to the Naples community.
The new Aurelio’s Pizza is a beautiful 5,000 sq. ft. restaurant with outdoor dining, a full bar and seating for up to 180. In the former Ted’s Montana Grill space, the state-of-the-art pizzeria — across from the Cheesecake Factory — also will offer carryout, home and office delivery, and will serve both lunch and dinner.
“Aurelio’s is back,” said Ross Barnard, Aurelio’s Pizza Naples franchise location owner. “I want to let people know we care deeply about the food quality and authenticity and we’re trying our best to make this experience exactly like it was when Joe Aurelio Jr. opened the very first Aurelio’s in 1959.”
Barnard adds, “And, I think the customers we’ve served this week really get that because the response has been amazing. We opened December 10 and, without any advertising, people are finding us – like heat seeking missiles find their pizza. We have great visibility in the Coastland Center, the brand is holding strong and people are supporting us with their business. We’re really excited to be here.”
Aurelio’s Pizza Naples location offers the same extensive menu for which it is known, including appetizers, pizzas, pastas, salads and sandwiches – and, of course, Naples’ favorites such as the Aurelio’s Antipasto Salad, Super Six Pizza, Mamma Aurelio’s Calabrese and Stuffed Pizza. And, as with every Aurelio’s location, customers will enjoy a quality, delicious meal, courteous service and a comfortable, contemporary environment.
Barnard also intends to be involved in the community. “Part of the Aurelio’s tradition is community support and that goes back to the beginning with Joe Aurelio. We have been entrenched in LaGrange and are excited to dive into Naples to become part of the community,” said Barnard. “We are working hard to be worthy of the Naples community’s passion for pizza and cannot wait to begin working with the local businesses, charities, schools and teams.”
“Naples has been a top market for Aurelio’s chain-wide, thanks to local Naples residents as well as transplanted Chicagoans. One of the hallmarks of our half-century-old brand is that we have a well-loved product we aim to deliver through a first-class dining experience. Ross and his son Andrew are veteran Aurelio’s Pizza franchisees, they are experts at product quality and customer service,” Kirk Mauriello, director of franchising, Aurelio’s Pizza. “The Barnard’s live the Aurelio’s brand which is about honoring and celebrating families, maintaining company and product authenticity, being part of the community and realizing corporate responsibility. They are exceptionally good at executing both the values of the Aurelio’s family, as well as the recipes. In fact, in this one week they’ve been open for business, their new Naples store ranked #1 chain-wide, outside of the Homewood store, with their lunch-time business. That really says something for the Naples market’s love for Aurelio’s Pizza, the depth of the brand and the Barnard’s authentic delivery.”
The new Aurelio’s Pizza in Naples opened December 10, 2012 and is at 2048 Tamiami Trail North in Naples. The phone number is 239-403-8882 (which is the same as the previous Naples Aurelio’s which is now closed).
For Aurelio’s Pizza franchise information, please visit http://www.aureliospizza.com/franchise/.
